Jordan Hulls plays through pain for Indiana

Indiana guard Jordan Hulls shoots against Temple in half of a third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday March 24, 2013, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

/ AP

Indiana guard Jordan Hulls shoots against Temple in half of a third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday March 24, 2013, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Indiana guard Jordan Hulls shoots against Temple in half of a third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday March 24, 2013, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) (/ AP)

TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

Jordan Hulls bit his lower lip and played through the pain. He had no choice.

With Indiana in deep trouble and its season slipping away on Sunday, the Hoosiers senior guard wasn't going to let an injured shoulder stop him.

Hulls got hurt in the first half of Sunday's 58-52 win over Temple when he collided with one of the Owls. Hulls grabbed his right arm and tried to tough it out, but eventually the senior went to the locker room with Indiana's team doctor for treatment.

As he left the court in Dayton Arena, Hoosiers fans shook their heads with worry. This couldn't be happening.

He returned for halftime warmups with his shoulder taped and wearing a protective top under his jersey.

With 8:49 left, Hulls buried a 3-pointer that brought Indiana within one point. He later hit a tough jumper near the foul line to get the Hoosiers back within two after Khalif Wyatt's free throws put the Owls up 52-48. Temple wouldn't score again as Hulls and the Hoosiers clamped down and advanced to face No. 4 seed Syracuse on Thursday in Washington.

After the game, Hulls, who has played more games than any player in IU history, said his shoulder was fine.

"I'm sure it will be a little sore, but nothing too serious," Hulls said. "You'd have to do a lot more to me than that to keep me off the floor in this kind of situation. My teammates had confidence in me and I was able to knock down some shots in the second half."

On Saturday, Hulls said he wasn't aware he was on the verge of playing more games than any IU player.

"That's pretty cool," he said. "Growing up in Bloomington and being able to play for my hometown university has been pretty special for me."

For coach Tom Crean, Hulls has meant more than almost any other player.

Hulls has been with Crean since 2009-10, when Indiana only won 10 games.

"He has been everything we could have asked for from the beginning," Crean said.